Scarce and attractive triple depiction of Lisbon by Bellin

Description

This beautiful, large 1756 French copper print illustrates Lisbon on one sheet in three different ways – on a chart, through a panoramic view, and as a city plan.

The chart, presenting as the central image and occupying most of the sheet, is oriented to the east. It shows Lisbon and its wider surroundings, including the estuaries of the Tagus and Sado rivers, hills (pictorial representation), and towns, including Cascais and Setúbal (Setuval).

In line with its maritime character, the chart is rich in respective details, including soundings, shoals, and anchorages.

Above the chart, a bird's-eye view is centred on the district of Belém, with Lisbon shown to the right of it, including a depiction of São Jorge Castle in the background. At front, numerous sailing ships adorn the scene.

The left side of the chart contains an inset which presents a city plan of Lisbon. A legend with reference numbers identifies 10 important landmarks, such as São Jorge Castle, the royal palace, the customs house, granaries, and the royal court. A note above the city wall highlights that “This enclosure has not been completed”.

This print was published only a short time after a major earthquake and following tsunami caused major devastation to not only Lisbon but wider coastal areas across Iberia and North Africa. These events, together with subsequent fires, caused tens of thousands of deaths in Lisbon alone and almost completely destroyed the city. Countless pieces of art, along with invaluable libraries, historic records, and extensive archives, including unique cartographic material and voyage accounts, were lost forever.

The earthquake, also known as the Great Lisbon Earthquake, is considered one of the most devastating natural disasters to ever have hit Europe and had significant repercussions in more ways than one for not just the immediately affected areas but wider Europe.

Bellin’s print shows Lisbon before the earthquake but, with a note on the chart, right where Lisbon is shown, acknowledges that “This city was destroyed by a furious earthquake, the first tremor of which was felt on November 1, 1755.”

The chart features a compass rose and two delicate rococo-style cartouches. The title cartouche contains a distance scale showing “Trois Lieues Marines de France”, i.e. three French nautical leagues, which would equal about nine nautical miles or approximately 16.7 km or 10.4 miles.

The city plan below the title cartouche features a distance scale showing “Douze cent Toises”, i.e. twelve hundred toises, which would equal about 2.3 km or 1.5 miles.

The second cartouche, to the right, conveys additional nautical information, including about tides and noting that soundings are given in fathoms at low tide.

The chart uses the Paris meridian.

The engraver of the chart is not indicated. However, we believe this to be either J. Arrivet or Jean-Baptiste Croisey.

A rare and highly decorative portrayal of the Portuguese capital before it was changed forever.

Condition

Very good.

A clear impression on a clean, watermarked sheet, issued folding. Wide margins. Beautiful colouring. Slight crease to the right of centrefold, running in parallel to it. Strongly faded contemporary annotations in manuscript to centre of left margin.

Item #: 02701

US $950.00

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